Mail box signal



Sept. 21, 1965 E. J. MADEWELL MAIL BOX SIGNAL Filed Nov. 21, 1962 mm w 3 d M m B W M m //.ll|J 45R 7 32 r j w 3,207,427 MAIL BOX SIGNAL Edwin J. Madewell, RR. 3, Box 149, Middlctown, Ohio Filed Nov. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 239,188 Claims. (Cl. 23235) This invention relates to signaling devices for rural mail boxes and the like, providing visual indication of a mail delivery.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of a signaling devices whereby such devices may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of application, and be unlikely to get out of order.

A further object of the invention is to introduce a principle of retention with concealment into devices of the class described, wherein indicator means is normally held and concealed within a box and released to spring automatically to a signaling position upon opening of the mail box door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signaling device which is not only door controlled but is mounted on the door for motion in unison therewith.

A further object of the invention is to construct a signaling device as described having a normally projected signaling portion free to assume and maintain such position in response to door opening and without interfering with subsequent closing of the door.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a signaling device of simple, inexpensive construction readily installed as an attachment on a mail box door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mail box possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of a mail box with the door closed, showing a signaling device in accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a detail view in front elevation of the attachment device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail view in perspective of a signaling device in accordance with another illustrated form of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view like FIG. 1 showing an installed view of the device of FIG. 3.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, rural type mail boxes, which provide the setting for the invention in its illustrated form, conventionally have an elongated hollow body open at one end for insert-ion and withdrawal of postal articles. A door 11 closes the open end of the box 10 and has a hinged connection 12 thereto at its bottom. The door is rocked to and from a closed position to control access to the box, an opening motion involving a relative separating movement of the upper end of the door through an arcuate path of desired angular extent While the bottom of the door pivots on connection 12. A peripheral flange 13 on the door achieves an overlapping relation to 3,207,427 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 the box at its open end in the closed position of the door. The door is centered thereby and increased weather protection afforded.

In an illustrated form as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an attached signaling device is of multi-part construction. Separate portions 14 and 15 are suitably formed out of sheet stock or the like using a metal, plastic or other material suited for outdoor exposure. The separated portions are arranged in side by side generally parallel relation and joined together by a flat leaf spring 16. The portion 14 comprises a rectangular body 17, one end of which is bent substantially at right angles to the body and then reversely upon itself to form a hook 1S. Toward its opposite end the body 17 is cut away to define a shoulder 19.

The portion 15 has an elongated strip configuration. A lower end thereof is aligned with shoulder 19 on portion 14 and spaced therefrom, the spring 16 bridging the portions at this location and maintaining a connected relationship of the portions in relative positions as indicated. Further, the spring 16 tends to resist bowing or deflection of the portion 15 forwardly and rearwardly of the portion 14 but being flexible permits such movement while continuing yieldingly to urge the portion 15 back to its normal upright posit-ion as illustrated. The portion 15 is in relatively projecting relation to the upper hook end 18 of the portion 14 and at its upper end may be suitably formed with an indicator flag or the like or have such a device attached thereto. Intermediate its ends approximately at the location of the hook 18, the portion 15 is offset to define a shoulder 21 substantially at right angles to upper and lower lengths of such portion.

The signaling device is attached to the mail box by mounting on the door 11. Thus, the body 17 of portion 14 is placed against the inside face of the door 11 to lie substantially flush thereagainst while the hook end 18 is slipped over the door flange 13. The parts may be held merely in this manner, depending upon frictional forces and gravity to hold the signaling device in an assembled relation, or a holding screw 22 may be passed through the upper extremity of the book 18 and into the flange 13 as indicated. With respect to portion 15, the shoulder 21 thereon is so located as to project over the adjacent edge of the box 10 beneath the flange 13. Accordingly, an initial length of the portion 15 lies or tends to lie with the portion 14 flush against the inner face of the door 11 while another length thereof beyond shoulder 21 projects from beneath flange 13 and extends upwardly in relatively elevated relation to the box.

In the operation of the device the signal is preset or loaded while the door is open. The portion 15 is deflected by hand downwardly and toward the box, stressing spring 16. As the door then is closed the portion 15 enters the box 10 and limits against the upper interior wall thereof in the manner indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1, being thus retained and concealed within the box. Now, when the door 11 is again opened for deposit of mail in the box the deflected indicator portion 15 is released and rises immediately to its normal upright position under the urging of spring 16. The door 11 then being closed upon the deposited mail, the indicator portion 15 remains erect and exposed outside the box giving visual indication of the delivery.

In another contemplated form, a signaling device in accordance with the invention is made of a suitably formed length of spring wire. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wire acquires structural form and resilience in part from a coil 23. From the coil 23 a length 24 of the wire extends upward to engage the inwardly facing side of a door 25 in the manner that the body 14 engages the door 11 in FIG. 1. At the upper extremity of the length 24,

the wire is bent into laterally spaced apart hook portions 26 and 27 which interfit with or engage over a flange 28 l in the manner that hook 18 in FIG. 1 engages flange l3. Continuing portions of thehooks 26 and 27 extend downwardly and are joined in a loop 29 on the outside of the door 25. Also extending ,from the coil 23 in. a direction opposed to the length 24 is another length of wire 31 extending angularly upwardly and reversely over the coil 23 approximately to engagement with the door 25 or to a vertical plane passing through the open ends of the hooks 26 and 27. There the wire length 31 is bent upwardly to encompass the adjacent edge of the box 32 and directed in an angular short length 33 beneath the flange 28. Beyond the flange the wire length 31 projects upwardly as an indicator portion 34 and has a flag 35 thereon.

In the use of the spring device ,of FIGS. 3 and 4, the device is mounted on a mailbox as illustrated. In the setting thereof the door is opened and the upwardly projected portion 34 manually deflected in the manner of indicator portion of FIG. 2 so that upon reclosing of the door such portion and its flag 35 arecaught and held within the box 32. Subsequent reopening of the box releases length 34 and allows it to reassume its upright indicating position as before described.

In both illustrated forms of the invention deflection of the indicator portion of the device produces a pressure tending bodily to rock the device from its mounting on the lip or flange of the mail box door. This tilting motion is in each instance absorbed by body portions of the device limiting against the door on its inner face. Similarly, in

each instance the device provides in its indicator portionv otfset or angular portions which engage between'or interfit with the door flange and the adjacent edge of. the box in a manner freely 'to permit closing of the door while the indicator portion is in a projected position.

The arrangement is additionally one exerting a locking pressure upon the indicator portion holding it relatively rigid against yielding factors incorporated in the device.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention intoeffect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,651 6/09 Farrar 232--35 969,038 8/10 Carmony 232-34 r 1,211,425 1/ 17 Farrar 232-35 1,684,823 9/28 Habighorst 232 -35 2,836,352 5/58 Morrow 232--35 3,102,684 9/63 Eging 23235 Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A signaling device for attachment to mail boxes having a door pivoted to the box at its lower end and having a side facing the interior of the box, including a first portion having a hook end adapted to engage the upper end of the door and a relatively elongated body extending toward the lower plane of the door and adapted for long bearing contact with the said interior facing side thereof, and another portion connected to the first said portion and spring urged to a projected position relative to said hook end, said other portion being defiectable for retention within the box, the reactant pressure generated by such retention being resolved into a thrust of said body against said door.

2. A signaling device according 'to claim 1, characterized in that said other portion has a configuration interfitting with the said upper end of the door and cooperating edge of the'bo x to enable said other portions to occupy a projected position when the door is closed.

3. A signaling devicefor attachment to mail boxes having a peripherally flanged door pivoted to the box at its lower end and having inside and outside surfaces relative to the box interior, including first and second generally upright portions flexibly interconnected and yieldingly resisting a forward deflection of said second portion relative to the first, means on said first portion for clamping the device to said door including a hook engaged with theflanged upper end of the door, said second portion being in relativelyprojected relation to said hook and having a bent configuration enabling it to retain a projected position when said door is closed, said second portion being 'deflectable to assume an alternate position in the closed position of the door wherein it is retained and concealed within the box for automatic release upon opening of the door.

4.-A signaling device according to claim 3, characterized in that said second portion of said device is in approximately parallel separated relation to said first portion, a flat spring interconnecting said portions and providing the described flexibility and yielding resistance. 7

5. A signaling device according to claim 3, characterized in that said device is made of formed spring wire with said second portion an integral continuing part of the first portion.

FRANK B.,SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

3. A SIGNALING DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO MAIL BOXES HAVING A PERIPHERAL FLANGED DOOR PIVOTED TO THE BOX AT ITS LOWER END AND HAVING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACES RELATIVE TO THE BOX INTERIOR, INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND GENERALLY UPRIGHT PORTIONS FLEXIBLY INTERCONNECTED AND YIELDINGLY RESISTING A FORWARD DEFLECTION OF SAID SECOND PORTION RELATIE TO THE FIRST, MEANS ON SAID FIRST PORTION FOR CLAMPING THE DEVICE TO SAID DOOR INCLUDING A HOOK ENGAGED WITH THE FLANGED UPPEREND OF THE DOOR, SAID SECOND PORTION BEING IN RELATIVELY PROJECTED RELATION TO SAID HOOK AND HAVING A BENT CONFIGURATION ENABLING IT TO RETAIN A PROJECTED POSITION WHEN SAID DOOR IS CLOSED, SAID SECOND PORTION BEING DEFLECTABLE TO ASSUME AN ALTERNATING POSITION IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF THE DOOR WHEREIN IT IS RETAINED AND 